What actually does the transcoding? (Not what program)

[lugnuttz]

What actually does the transcoding? (Not what program)

I have an .avi file that was captured from my DV cam. Once its trimmed and ready to create the DVD, and I go to create a DVD folder on my HD. What is transcoding these to the.vob files. Is it done with my CPU & RAM, or is it done with my Video Card?
I am having problems with my pc locking up, no matter what software I use to transcode, and I am trying to diagnose what piece of hardware that is responsable for this task.

TIA
Lugnut

[Eandtc]

It could be your codec. I kept locking up with Huffy in VirtualMod, but it ran fine in VirtualDubMod. Software-wise, the drivers that came with my capture board locked-up the computer when I tried 720x480, but know it does fine with third party software.

You might want to list and describe your components: CPU, videocard, memory, etc.

[lugnuttz]

OK I updated my profile to show my PC specs. I dont think its software, but I could be wrong.
Example, I create an .avi file with adobe premiere pro 1.5 and try to author a dvd with even adobe encore dvd, and it fails. I have even tried TMPGEnc plus, DVDit, Pinnacle Studio 9, DVD workshop 2.0, and Video Studio 7. None can complete, they all start, but it comes up with something like "unknown error" or completely locks up the PC.

Strange thing though, I can get premiere pro to burn a dvd directly, but obviously I get no menu that way. Any program that I have tried, will not work.

Any suggestions are welcome... Thanks!

[johns0]

Problems such as freezes and lockups could be bad memory,try memtest86 and run it over night to test your ram.

[redwudz]

To your original question. If you are converting from AVI to DVD compliant MPEG2 you aren't transcoding you are encoding. Transcoding is what programs like DVDShrink do, just convert the existing file to a smaller one. Encoding creates a different form of the original.

That said, I would also suspect bad memory modules. Or CPU overheating. You should check this either in BIOS or with something like Motherboard Monitor. BTW, a VOB is just a different form of a MPEG file.

[proxyx99]

Try reseating your memory modules. Some memory modules ar not working well with some MOBO's... Also , CPU fan issues, dirt and dust on radiators... as well as missing (damaged) OS files.

[lugnuttz]

To your original question. If you are converting from AVI to DVD compliant MPEG2 you aren't transcoding you are encoding. Transcoding is what programs like DVDShrink do, just convert the existing file to a smaller one. Encoding creates a different form of the original.

That said, I would also suspect bad memory modules. Or CPU overheating. You should check this either in BIOS or with something like Motherboard Monitor. BTW, a VOB is just a different form of a MPEG file.

Well I think I have a couple issues, first some sort of a problem with my memory, because now that I have started this locking up thing, its becoming more frequent. I ran that memtest86, and it locks up with that too. So I will begin to look into that.

Secondly to get back into the encode/transcode issue. I have run TMPGEnc plus on a 2ND PC and got the file to encode to MPEG2, but I dont like how it looks. It made a 550MB file and it looks all pixelated (kinda grany) where there is lots of detail or fast movement. I have never made a DVD this way before, because of this reason. Is there a way to make it NOT compress the MPEG2 file so much??? Am I doing something wrong??
Any other time I have made a dvd before, I have always went right from the MiniDV compliant .AVI file and encoded it (or what I was calling transcoding) right to a DVD folder on my HD with .VOB files. Then I would use nero to burn it directly to a DVD. When I do it this way, say for example I have a 45 minute video, the .AVI file is approx 10GB, then when I convert it to the DVD folder its around 3.5GB, & ready to burn.

Again thanks to all of you with your continuted assistance.

[bugster]

Secondly to get back into the encode/transcode issue. I have run TMPGEnc plus on a 2ND PC and got the file to encode to MPEG2, but I dont like how it looks. It made a 550MB file and it looks all pixelated (kinda grany) where there is lots of detail or fast movement.

Again thanks to all of you with your continuted assistance.

Sounds like you need to increase the bitrate and possibly resolution. There are several guides on using TmpGenc for producing DVD compliant mpegs under conversion on the left of the page

[lugnuttz]

Try reseating your memory modules. Some memory modules ar not working well with some MOBO's... Also , CPU fan issues, dirt and dust on radiators... as well as missing (damaged) OS files.

Well while checking my ram modules, I saw that my cpu cooler had one of the 2 clips loose, and checking closer, one of the clips was broken, so the left side clip was pushing the heat sink while the other side lifted, so my problem was the cpu overheating.

Thanks for the suggestion

[lugnuttz]

Sounds like you need to increase the bitrate and possibly resolution. There are several guides on using TmpGenc for producing DVD compliant mpegs under conversion on the left of the page

Yes that was exactly it..... now that the programs has no software conflicts, its working properly, and I read a couple nice guides to tweak it in, and its looking beautiful now!!
Thanks for your tip bugster!